AOL to go free?

An article published in the Wall Street Journal earlier today says that AOL is
considering dropping their subscription-based business model in favor of an
ad-supported model, which means giving up more than $2 billion in subscription
revenues. Here's the link:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115215133247699165.html?mod=mm_media_marketing_h
s_left

Since the WSJ is subscription, I checked the news on IDG and posted it below. 
Not sure why my subscription suddenly isn't working, but thought others might
have the same issue.

Apparently, it's some services for broadband users who use a broadband ISP, but
dialup users will still be paying.

AOL LLC is looking at offering its services, including e-mail, for free to
customers with a broadband Internet connection, according to a Wall Street
Journal report. 

AOL CEO Jonathan Miller presented the idea to other executives at AOL corporate
parent Time Warner Inc. last week, according to the Journal story. Under the
plan, AOL would stop charging subscription fees to customers who buy Internet
service from another provider. 

Subscribers with AOL dial-up service would continue to pay subscriptions. AOL
subscribers get e-mail service, as well as virus protection and other security
services. 

The plan comes as AOL looks for ways to counter a decline in subscribers. In the
first quarter of this year, AOL had 18.6 million subscribers in the U.S., down
by 3.1 million from a year earlier. AOL's revenue declined 7% to $2 billion in
the first quarter of the year, driven by a 13% fall in subscription revenue.
Advertising revenue increased 26%, offsetting part of the subscription decline.


AOL would expect to lose about 8 million of its 13 million dial-up subscribers
if it goes ahead with the plan Miller presented, the Journal reported. 

AOL officials weren't immediately available for comment.

I can only hope that this development spurs Microsoft to open up the MSN
Explorer product.

Though, in all reality, while it has been surpassed by the free Windows Live
products gound at Live.com, it is still groundbreaking and relevant in that it
allows for aggregation of your information using a standard web browser, rather
than the AOL crapware.

AOL, LOL "Ha Ha Ha!"